Plant-derived alkaline alpha-galactosidase

ABSTRACT

There are provided novel plant-derived enzymes for hydrolysis of sugars and particularly an alkaline alpha-galactosidase which hydrolyzes a broad spectrum of galactosyl-saccharides such as melibiose, raffinose and stachyose and guar gum, at neutral to alkaline pH conditions.

This Application is a Divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/488,473, filed on May 30, 2003, now abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/744,086, filed on Apr. 25, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,607,901, issued on Aug. 19, 2003, which is a US National Phase of PCT Application No. PCT/IL99/00395, filed on Jul. 19, 1999, now expired, which claims the benefit of Israel Patent Application No. 125423, issued on Dec. 9, 2004. The contents of the above Applications are all incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to plant-derived enzymes for hydrolysis of sugars and particularly to an alkaline alpha-galactosidase which hydrolyzes a broad spectrum of galactosyl-saccharides such as melibiose, raffinose and stachyose and guar gum, at neutral to alkaline pH conditions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The enzyme alpha-galactosidase (E.C. 3.2.1.22; alpha-D-galactoside galactohydrolase) catalyzes the hydrolysis of the terminal linked alpha-galactose moiety from galactose-containing oligosaccharides. These include, for example, the naturally occurring disaccharide melibiose (6-O-alpha-D-galactopyranosyl-D-glucose), the trisaccharide raffinose (O-alpha-D-galactopyranosyl-(1-6)-O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-2)-beta-D-fructofuranoside) and the tetrasaccharide stachyose (O-alpha-D-galactopyranosyl-(1-6)-O-alpha-D-galactopyranosyl-(1-6)-O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-2)-beta-D-fructofuranoside). Alpha-galactosidases have potential use in various applications, and some examples are described by Margolles-Clark et al. (“Three alpha-galactosidase genes of Trichoderma reesi cloned by expression in yeast”, Eur. J. Biochemistry, 240:104-111, 1996). They may hydrolyze alpha-galactose residues from polymeric galactomannans, such as in guar gum; modification of guar gum galactomannan with alpha-galactosidase has been used to improve the gelling properties of the polysaccharide (Bulpin, P. V., et al., “Development of a biotechnological process for the modification of galactomannan polymers with plant alpha-galactosidase”, Carbohydrate Polymers 12:155-168, 1990). Alpha-galactosidase can hydrolyze raffinose from beet sugar syrup, which can be used to facilitate the sugar crystallization from molasses, since the raffinose presents an obstacle to the normal crystallization of beet sugar (Suzuki et al., “Studies on the decomposition of raffinose by alpha-galactosidase of mold” Agr. Biol. Chem., 33:501-513, 1969). Additionally, alpha-galactosidase can be used to hydrolyze stachyose and raffinose in soybean milk, thereby reducing or eliminating the undesirable digestive side effects which are associated with soybean milk (Thananunkal et al., “Degradation of raffinose and stachyose in soybean milk by alpha-galactosidase from Mortierella vinacea” Jour. Food Science, 41:173-175, 1976). The enzyme can also remove the terminal alpha-galactose residue from other glycans, such as the erythrocyte surface antigen conferring blood group B specificity. This has potential medical use in transfusion therapy by converting blood group type B to universal donor type O (Harpaz et al. “Studies on B-antigenic sites of human erythrocytes by use of coffee bean alpha-galactosidase”, Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics, 170:676-683, 1975; and by Zhu et al. “Characterization of recombinant alpha-galactosidase for use in seroconversion from blood group B to O of human erythrocytes”, Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics, 327:324-329, 1996).

Plant Alpha-Galactosidases

Plant alpha-galactosidases from numerous sources have been studied and multiple forms of the enzyme have been described, such as in Keller F. and Pharr D. M., “Metabolism of Carbohydrates in Sinks and Sources: Galactosyl-Sucrose Oligosaccharides”, In: Zamski, E. and Schaffer, A. A. (eds.) Photoassimilate Partitioning in Plants and Crops: Source-Sink Relationships, ch. 7, pp. 168-171, 1996, Marcel Dekker Publ., New York. These can be classified into two broad groups, acid or alkaline, according to the pH at which they show optimal activity. Practically all studies of alpha-galactosidases have dealt with the acidic forms of the enzyme and these play important roles in seed development and germination. Alpha-galactosidases with optimal activity at alkaline pH are uncommon in eucaryotic organisms.

Alpha-galactosidases which show preferred activity to the disaccharide melibiose are often referred to as melibiases. These may have optimal activity at alkaline pH but are relatively specific to melibiose, with only little activity and low affinity to the trisaccharide raffinose. In addition, they characteristically function as a multimeric protein. For example, the bacterial alpha-galactosidase that has been described from Bacillus stearothermophilus (Talbot, G. and Sygusch, J., “Purification and characterization of thermostable beta-mannanase and alpha-galactosidase from Bacillus stearothermophilus”, Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 56:3503-3510, 1990) has over a 15-fold higher activity with melibiose, as compared to raffinose and functions as a trimer. The alpha-galactosidase described from Escherichia coli K12 similarly has only about 4% of the activity with raffinose as compared to melibiose, with Km values of 60 mM and 3.2 mM, respectively, in addition to functioning as a tetrameric protein (Schmid and Schmitt, “Raffinose metabolism in Escherichia coli K12: purification and properties of a new alpha-galactosidase specified by a transmissible plasmid”, Eur. J. Biochemistry, 67:95-104, 1976). Similarly, the enzyme from Pseudomonas fluorescens H-601 (Hashimoto, H. et al., “Purification and some properties of alpha-galactosidase from Pseudomonas fluorescens H-601”, Agric. Biol. Chem., 55:2831-2838, 1991) has relative Km values for raffinose and melibiose of 17 and 3.2 mM, respectively, and functions as a tetramer.

There are obvious advantages to the use of a monomer protein with the desired enzyme activity, as compared to multimeric proteins. This has clearly been shown, for example, with the alpha-galactosidases from mung bean seeds (del Campillo, E., et al., “Molecular properties of the enzymic phytohemagglutinin of mung bean”, J. Biol. Chem. 256:7177-7180, 1981) in which the tetrameric form of the enzyme disassociated into the monomeric form during storage, and this was accompanied by loss of activity.

The galactosyl-sucrose sugars, stachyose and raffinose, together with sucrose, are the primary translocated sugars in the phloem of cucurbits, which includes muskmelons, pumpkins and cucumber. The very low concentrations of raffinose and stachyose in fruit tissues of muskmelon suggest that galactosyl-sucrose unloaded from phloem is rapidly metabolized, with the initial hydrolysis by alpha-galactosidase, as described in “Cucurbits”, Schaffer, A. A., Madore, M. and Pharr, D. M., In: Zamski, E. and Schaffer, A. A. (eds.) Photoassimilate Partitioning in Plants and Crops: Source-Sink Relationships, ch. 31, pp. 729-758, 1996, Marcel Dekker Publ., New York.

P.-R. Gaudreault and J. A. Webb have described in several publications, (such as “Alkaline alpha-galactosidase in leaves of Cucurbita pepo”, Plant Sci. Lett. 24, 281-288, 1982, “Partial purification and properties of an alkaline alpha-galactosidase from mature leaves of Cucurbita pepo”, Plant Physiol., 71, 662-668, 1983, and ‘Alkaline alpha-galactosidase activity and galactose metabolism in the family Cucurbitaceae”, Plant Science, 45, 71-75, 1986), a novel alpha-galactosidase purified from young leaves of Cucurbita pepo, that has an optimal activity at alkaline conditions (pH 7.5). In addition to the alkaline alpha-galactosidase, they also reported three acid forms of the enzyme, and distinct substrate preferences were found for the acid and alkaline forms. Raffinose was found to be the preferred substrate of the acidic forms. The alkaline form had high affinity (Km=4.5 mM) and high activity (1.58 μmol galactose formed per min per mg protein) only with stachyose. It had low affinity for (Km=36.4 mM) and low activity (0.14 μmol galactose formed per min. per mg protein) toward the trisaccharide raffinose but hydrolyzed melibiose so slowly that affinity and activity with melibiose was not calculated. Thus, the alkaline alpha-galactosidase reported by Gaudreault and Webb can be described as having activity at alkaline pH but only within a narrow spectrum of substrates. This is clearly a disadvantage, a wider substrate specificity affording more numerous practical applications.

A further characteristic of the alkaline alpha-galactosidase from young leaves of Cucurbita pepo is that alpha-D-galactose, the product of the enzymatic reaction, is a strong inhibitor of the enzyme's activity (Gaudreault and Webb, Plant Physiol., 1983, 71:662-668,), similar to many of the acid alpha-galactosidases. Geaudreault and Webb calculated that 6.4 mM galactose reduced the reaction velocity of alkaline alpha-galactosidase by 50%, in a reaction mixture containing 7.5 mM pNPG at pH 7.5. Such an inhibition by the product of the reaction (termed “product inhibition”), generally has important physiological significance in metabolism.

Gaudreault and Webb (among others) have suggested that the alkaline alpha-galactosidase, as the initial enzyme in the metabolic pathway of stachyose and raffinose catabolism, was important in phloem unloading and catabolism of transported stachyose in the young cucurbit leaf tissue. It is likely that alpha-galactosidase similarly plays an important role in the carbohydrate partitioning in melon plants, and may have possible functions for phloem unloading in fruits of muskmelon. Recently, alpha-galactosidase activity at alkaline pH has been observed in other cucurbit tissue, such as cucumber fruit pedicels, young squash fruit and young melon fruit. Results obtained by Pharr and Hubbard (“Melons: Biochemical and Physiological Control of Sugar Accumulation, In: Encyclopedia of Agricultural Science, vol. 3, pp. 25-37, Arntzen, C. J., et al., eds. Academic Press, New York, 1994) led them to suggest that stachyose degradation by alpha-galactosidase took place within pedicels of fruit of Cucumis sativus, especially in the regions where the pedicel joins the fruit. Recently, Irving et al. (“Changes in carbohydrates and carbohydrate metabolizing enzymes during the development, maturation and ripening of buttercup squash, Cucurbita maxima D. ‘Delica’”, J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci., 122: 310-314, 1997) reported the developmental changes in alpha-galactosidase activities, measured at acid and alkaline pH, in buttercup squash (Cucurbita maxima) fruit. They found that at anthesis, alkaline activity was higher than activity at acid pH and that both activities declined during fruit development. Chrost and Schmitz (“Changes in soluble sugar and activity of alpha-galactosidase and acid invertase during muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.) fruit development”. J. of Plant Physiology, 151:41-50, 1977) reported approximately similar activities of alpha-galactosidase at acid and alkaline pH in Cucumis melo fruit at the anthesis stage.

However, all of these studies were carried out using the non-specific artificial substrate, p-nitrophenyl alpha-galactopyranoside (pNPG), which indicates alpha-galactosidase activity but does not reflect either the physiological role of the particular enzyme forms, or, more importantly, the substrate specificity of the particular enzyme.

Indeed, it is well established that the artificial substrate pNPG often indicates a higher pH optimum for alpha-galactosidase activity than that which is observed with the natural substrates. For example, Courtois and Petek (“alpha-galactosidase from coffee bean”, Methods in Enzymology, vol. 8:565-571, 1966) state that “With alpha-phenylgalactoside (pNPG) one observes a pH optimum at pH 3.6, and a second more pronounced peak at pH 6.1. Toward other substrates (melibiose, raffinose, planteose and stachyose) the pH curve is flatter, with a maximum between 3.6 and 4.0”. Similar results were observed for the alpha-galactosidase of Vicia faba seeds (Dey, P. M. and Pridham, J. B., “Purification and properties of alpha-galactosidase from Vicia faba seeds”, Bioch. J., 113:49-54, 1969). Thus, the abovementioned observations of alkaline alpha-galactosidase enzyme activity in the fruit pedicel or fruit tissue, assayed with pNPG, give no indication as to the actual character of the catalytic activity measured, and cannot clearly distinguish such activity from previously described alpha-galactosidase.

While it had been thought that alkaline alpha-galactosidase may be confined to the cucurbit family, which includes the above mentioned squash, cucumber and melon plants, it has recently been shown by Bachmann et al. (“Metabolism of the raffinose family oligosaccharides in leaves of Ajuga reptens L.”, Plant Physiology 105:1335-1345, 1994) that Ajuga reptens plants (common bugle), a stachyose translocator from the unrelated Lamiaceae family also contains an alkaline alpha-galactosidase. This enzyme was partially characterized and found to have high affinity to stachyose. Also, leaves of the Peperomia camptotricha L. plant, from the family Piperaceae, show alpha-galactosidase activity at alkaline pH, suggesting that they also contain an alkaline alpha-galactosidase enzyme (Madore, M., “Catabolism of raffinose family oligosaccharides by vegetative sink tissues”, In: Carbon Partitioning and Source-Sink Interactions in Plants, Madore, M. and Lucas, W. J. (eds.) pp. 204-214, 1995, American Society of Plant Physiologists, Maryland). This indicates the possibility that alkaline alpha-galactosidases, including novel enzymes not previously described, may function in other plants that metabolize galactosyl-saccharides, in addition to the cucurbits. Similarly, Gao and Schaffer (Plant Physiol. 1999; 119:979-88, which is incorporated fully herein by reference) have reported an alpha galactosidase activity with alkaline pH optimum in crude extracts of tissues from a variety of species including members of the Cucurbit and Coleus (Lamiaceae) families.

The use of an acidic form of alpha-galactosidase in biotechnological and industrial applications presents problems. For example, the use of an acidic form of alpha-galactosidase to remove the galactose-containing oligosaccharides, which include raffinose and stachyose, from soybean milk presents a dilemma, as described by Thanaunkul et al., (“Degradation of raffinose and stachyose in soybean milk by alpha-galactosidase from Mortierella vinacea” Jour. Food Science, 41:173-175, 1976). The pH of soybean milk, which is 6.2-6.4, is well above the optimum pH range of the Mortariella vinacea enzyme, which is 4.0-4.5, as shown using the natural substrate melibiose. Lowering the pH of the soybean milk solution to conform to the acidic enzyme's pH optimum caused the soybean proteins to precipitate and left a sour taste to the milk.

The use of alpha-galactosidase with an acidic pH optimum for the removal of raffinose from beet sugar faces a similar problem. In Suzuki et, 1969, (“Studies on the decomposition of raffinose by alpha-galactosidase of mold” Agr. Biol. Chem., 33:501-513, 1969) the pH of the beet molasses had to be lowered to 5.2 with sulfuric acid in order for the Mortariella vinacea enzyme to function.

Similarly, seroconversion of blood type B to blood type O would benefit from an alpha-galactosidase that is active at neutral to alkaline pH. since the described procedure (Goldstein et al., “Group B erythrocytes enzymatically converted to group O survive normally in A, B, and O individuals” Science, 215:168-170, 1982) requires the transfer of centrifuged erythrocytes to an acidic buffer in order for the enzyme to function. Lowering the pH to the optimum for the coffee bean alpha-galactosidase caused the cells to be less stable and lysis to occur. Thus, the seroconversion is carried out at pH 5.6, “reflecting a compromise between red cell viability and optimal alpha-galactosidase activity”, as reported in Zhu et al. (“Characterization of recombinant alpha-galactosidase for use in seroconversion from blood group B to O of human erythrocytes”, Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics, 327:324-329, 1996). Since the natural pH of blood is in the neutral to alkaline range (pH 7.3) an alpha-galactosidase with activity in this pH range would have obvious advantages.

An additional limitation on the industrial utility of the currently available alpha-galactosidases is that their activity is frequently inhibited by the product of the reaction, galactose. As an example, the reported alkaline alpha-galactosidase from Cucurbita pepo leaves (Geaudreault, P. R. and Webb, J. A. “Partial purification and properties of an alkaline alpha-galactosidase from mature leaves of Cucurbita pepo”, Plant Physiol., 71, 662-668, 1983) is strongly inhibited by alpha-galactose and it was calculated that 6.4 mM galactose reduced the reaction velocity by 50%.

Thus, there is a well-established need for an alpha-galactosidase with high activity at neutral to alkaline pH and with activity towards a broad spectrum of natural galactose-containing saccharides, particularly, but not exclusively raffinose.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention seeks to provide a novel alkaline alpha-galactosidase which hydrolyzes a broad spectrum of galactose containing compounds, including, but not limited to, melibiose, raffinose, stachyose and guar gum. At minimum, the enzyme hydrolyzes stachyose, raffinose and melibiose and guar gum. By contrast, a previously described alkaline alpha-galactosidase, which is quite specific for the tetrasaccharide stachyose, shows low activity toward, and low affinity for, the trisaccharide raffinose and no detectable activity against the disaccharide melibiose.

Thus, according to one aspect of the present invention there is provided an isolated, plant derived enzyme comprising: (a) an alpha-galactosidase (E.C. 3.2.1.22, alpha-D-galactoside galactohydrolase) activity; (b) a Vmax/Km ratio for the substrate raffinose at least 0.1 that of the Vmax/Km ratio for the substrate stachyose; and (c) optimal activity in the range of pH 7.0 to pH 8.0.

According to further features in described preferred embodiments, the Vmax/Km ratio for the substrate raffinose is preferably at least 0.5, more preferably equal to, and most preferably greater than that of the Vmax/Km ratio for the substrate stachyose.

According to further features in described preferred embodiments, the K_(m) for the substrate raffinose is less than about 10 mM, preferably less than about 5 mM, and most preferably less than or equal to about 1.5 mM.

According to still further features in described preferred embodiments, the isolated plant-derived enzyme is isolated from an alpha-galactosyl saccharide metabolizing plant.

According to yet further features in described preferred embodiments, the alpha-galactosyl saccharide metabolizing plant is a member of a plant family selected from the group consisting of Cucurbitacae, Lamiaceae, Piperaceae, Leguminosae, Solanaceae, Cruciferae and Gramineae family.

According to further features in described preferred embodiments, the plant is a melon plant.

According to still further features in described preferred embodiments, the plant is a member of the Lamiaceae family.

According to yet further features in described preferred embodiments, the enzyme is isolated from a plant tissue selected from the group consisting of a fruit, a leaf, a seed, a stalk, a root, a tuber, a flower and a runner of the plant.

According to further features in described preferred embodiments, the enzyme is isolated from a germinating seed.

According to still further features in described preferred embodiments, the enzyme is a protein monomer.

According to yet further features in described preferred embodiments, the enzyme is an exo-alpha-galactosidase.

According to further features in described preferred embodiments, the enzyme is a non-glycosylated plant-derived enzyme.

According to still further features in described preferred embodiments, the enzyme is further characterized having a molecular mass of about 70-100 kDa, preferably about 80-90 kDa, and most preferably about 84 kDa, as determined by gel electrophoresis.

According to yet further features in described preferred embodiments, the enzyme is further characterized having a pI of 4.0-6.0, preferably 4.8-5.5, and most preferably 5.0, as determined by isoelectric focusing on high-speed gel electrophoresis.

According to further features in described preferred embodiments, the enzyme is not inhibited by galactose, and is characterized by a Ki (galactose) of at least 13 mM.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for removing alpha-galactose from a galactosyl-saccharide containing material, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a plant-derived alkaline alpha galactosidase; and (b) contacting the galactosyl-saccharide containing material with the plant-derived alkaline alpha galactosidase at a pH greater than 7.0 so as to remove alpha-galactose from the galactosyl-saccharide containing material.

According to still another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for seroconversion of blood group B erythrocytes to blood group O erythrocytes, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a plant-derived alkaline alpha galactosidase; and (b) contacting the blood group B erythrocytes with the plant-derived alkaline alpha galactosidase at a pH greater than 7.0, so as to remove the terminal a-linked galactose residue from the group B surface antigen, thereby seroconverting the blood group B erythrocytes to blood group O erythrocytes.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for facilitating the crystallization of sugar beet sucrose from sugar beet molasses, the method comprising the steps of (a) providing a plant-derived alkaline alpha galactosidase, and (b) contacting the sugar beet molasses with the plant-derived alkaline alpha galactosidase at a pH greater than 7.0, so as to hydrolyze the raffinose in the sugar beet molasses to galactose and sucrose, thereby facilitating the crystallization of sugar beet sucrose from the sugar beet molasses.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for reducing the capability of a foodstuff to cause flatulence during digestion of said foodstuff, the method comprising the steps of (a) providing a plant-derived alkaline alpha galactosidase, and (b) contacting the foodstuff prior to ingestion with the plant-derived alkaline alpha galactosidase at a pH greater than 7.0, so as to hydrolyze an alpha-galactosyl saccharide contained in the foodstuff, thereby reducing the capability of the foodstuff to cause flatulence during digestion.

According to still another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of modifying the rheological properties of alpha-galactosyl saccharide containing plant gums, the method comprising the steps of (a) providing a plant-derived alkaline alpha galactosidase, and (b) contacting the plant gum with the plant-derived alkaline alpha galactosidase at a pH greater than 7.0, so as to hydrolyze an alpha-galactosyl saccharide contained in the plant gum, thereby modifying the rheological properties of the alpha-galactosyl saccharide containing plant gum.

The present invention is distinguished from the presently known alpha galactosidases by a number of characteristics, particularly the neutral to alkaline activity optimum, the broad substrate specificity and most importantly the high affinity for raffinose. Due to these very same characteristics, the methods of the present invention successfully address the shortcomings of presently known methods in such diverse uses of the enzyme as the seroconversion of type B blood to type O blood, as well as a host of applications in the food products industry.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a simplified graphical illustration of separation of acid and alkaline alpha-galactosidases from melon fruit on ion-exchange chromatography, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The protein fraction of 5-50% (w/v) PEG-6000 was applied to a column of DEAE-Sepharose 4B and eluted with the indicated linear gradient of 0 to 0.45 M NaCl.

FIG. 2 is a simplified graphical illustration of separation of alkaline alpha-galactosidases forms I and II from melon fruit on ion-exchange chromatography, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The fractions active at pH 7.5, represented in FIG. 1, were pooled and applied to a HPLC Mono-Q column and eluted with the indicated linear gradient of 0 to 0.4 M NaCl.

FIG. 3 shows a Coomassie blue-stained SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) gel showing the denatured alkaline alpha-galactosidase forms I (left) and II (right). Next to each of the purified proteins is a lane showing the separation of markers of known molecular weight, for comparison.

FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C are simplified graphical illustrations of the kinetics of acid (FIG. 4A), alkaline I (FIG. 4B) and alkaline II (FIG. 4C) alpha-galactosidases with pNPG, stachyose, raffinose melibiose as substrate. The relative specificity of alkaline Form II for stachyose is evident, as compared to the broader specificity of alkaline alpha-galactosidase Form I.

FIGS. 4D-F are simplified graphical illustrations of the kinetics of acid (FIG. 4D), alkaline I (FIG. 4E) and alkaline II (FIG. 4F) alpha-galactosidases with pNPG as substrate, in the presence of varying concentrations of the inhibitor galactose. The relative sensitivity of the acid form and the alkaline Form II for galactose is evident, as compared to the insensitivity of alkaline alpha-galactosidase Form I.

FIG. 5 is a simplified graphical illustrations indicating the extent of inhibition of the alpha-galactosidases by alternative substrates. In particular, it shows that the addition of excess raffinose (80 mM) to the assay medium containing 10 mM stachyose causes 35% inhibition of maximal alkaline Form II activity. The inhibition of the acid form by excess stachyose is demonstrated, particularly, that 80 mM stachyose added to the assay medium of the acid alpha-galactosidase causes 45% inhibition, as measure by the free galactose product. Of note is that alkaline Form I activity, as measured by the production of free galactose, does not decrease in the presence of excess stachyose.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are simplified graphical illustrations of the effect of pH on activity of purified acid and alkaline alpha-galactosidases Form I and Form II. FIG. 6A illustrates the activity against the natural substrates raffinose (acid and alkaline Form I) or stachyose (alkaline Form II); FIG. 6B illustrates the activity against the synthetic substrate pNPG. The buffers used were citrate-phosphate (pH 4.0-7.0), HEPES-KOH (pH 7.0-8.0), and Tris (pH 8.0-8.5). All data were adjusted relative to maximum activity for each enzyme.

FIG. 7 is a simplified graphical illustration of the effect of reaction temperature on activity of partial purified acid and alkaline alpha-galactosidases I, II with pNPG as substrate. All data were adjusted relative to maximum activity for each enzyme.

FIG. 8 is a simplified graphical illustration of the calibration curve from which the native molecular weight of the enzymes were determined (Sephacryl G-200).

FIG. 9 is a simplified graphical illustration of activities of alpha-galactosidases during fruit development from ovary through maturation. Citrate-phosphate buffer pH 5.5 and HEPES buffer pH 7.5 were used for the assays with stachyose or raffinose as substrate. The activity at pH 5.5 with raffinose as substrate represents the acid form while the activities at pH 7.5 with raffinose or stachyose as substrate represent the alkaline alpha-galactosidase forms I and II, respectively. Data from fruit younger that 6 days after anthesis are from whole ovaries while only the mesocarp portion of the ovaries were sampled from fruit 10 days and older. Each value is the mean of results from four replicates each of which consisted of one fruit. Vertical bars represent standard errors.

Table 1 illustrates the purification scheme for acid and alkaline I, II alpha-galactosidases from melon fruit. All the specific activities were assayed using raffinose (for acid and alkaline Form I) or stachyose (for alkaline Form II) as substrate.

Table 2 illustrates the comparison of the kinetic parameters (K_(m), V_(max) and V_(max)/K_(m) ratio) of acid and alkaline Form I and Form II alpha-galactosidases from melon fruit, using the natural substrates raffinose, stachyose, and melibiose, and the synthetic substrate pNPG.

Table 3 illustrates the comparison of relatives activities of acid and alkaline Form I and Form II alpha-galactosidases from melon fruit using the substrates stachyose, raffinose and melibiose (each 10 mM) and guar gum (0.1%, w/v). Activity units for each enzyme was scaled so that the 1.00 value represents that enzymes activity on its preferred substrate.

Table 4 lists the partial amino acid sequences of the N-terminal peptide from the purified alkaline alpha-galactosidase.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a novel, plant-derived alpha-galactosidase metabolizing a broad spectrum of galactosyl saccharides, having optimal activity in neutral to alkaline pH range, which can be used in a variety of applications, including, but not limited to, enzymatic seroconversion of group B blood cells, reduction of Gal alpha (1,3) Gal on endothelial cells for xenotransplantation, reducing flatulence associated with soybean milk ingestion, the modification of galactoside-containing plant gums, and the hydrolysis of raffinose-containing beet sugar crystallization. Specifically, the novel plant-derived alkaline alpha-galactosidase has a high affinity for raffinose and stachyose, and a pH optimum between pH 7.0 and 8.0 with a wide range of natural saccharide substrates, and can be isolated from a wide variety of monocot and dicot plants using a method of polyethylene gycol (PEG) precipitation of proteins.

The principles and operation of a plant-derived alpha-galactosidase having a greater substrate specificity for raffinose than for stachyose and optimal activity in neutral to alkaline pH according to the present invention may be better understood with reference to the drawings and accompanying descriptions.

Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details set forth in the following description or exemplified by the Examples. The invention is capable of other embodiments or of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

Alpha-galactosidases catalyze the hydrolysis of the terminal linked alpha-galactose moiety from galactose-containing oligosaccharides such as melibiose, raffinose and stachyose. As described in detail in the Background section hereinabove, alpha-galactosidases have potential use in various applications: U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,330,619, 4,427,777 and 4,609,672 to Goldstein et al describe the enzymatic seroconversion of group B to group O blood; U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,150,171 and 6,368,844 to Bylina describe pharmaceutical, industrial and agricultural applications of a thermostable alpha-galactosidase. Other examples are described by Margolles-Clark et al. (“Three alpha-galactosidase genes of Trichoderna reesi cloned by expression in yeast”, Eur. J. Biochemistry, 240:104-111, 1996). They may hydrolyze alpha-galactose residues from polymeric galactomannans, such as in guar gum; modification of guar gum galactomannan with alpha-galactosidase has been used to improve the gelling properties of the polysaccharide (Bulpin, P. V., et al., “Development of a biotechnological process for the modification of galactomannan polymers with plant alpha-galactosidase”, Carbohydrate Polymers 12:155-168, 1990). Alpha-galactosidase can hydrolyze raffinose from beet sugar syrup, which can be used to facilitate the sugar crystallization from molasses, since the raffinose presents an obstacle to the normal crystallization of beet sugar (Suzuki et al., “Studies on the decomposition of raffinose by alpha-galactosidase of mold” Agr. Biol. Chem., 33:501-513, 1969). Additionally, alpha-galactosidase can be used to hydrolyze stachyose and raffinose in soybean milk, thereby reducing or eliminating the undesirable digestive side effects which are associated with soybean milk (Thananunkal et al., “Degradation of raffinose and stachyose in soybean milk by alpha-galactosidase from Mortierella vinacea” Jour. Food Science, 41:173-175, 1976). The enzyme can also remove the terminal alpha-galactose residue from other glycans, such as the erythrocyte surface antigen conferring blood group B specificity. This has potential medical use in transfusion therapy by converting blood group type B to universal donor type O (Harpaz et al. “Studies on B-antigenic sites of human erythrocytes by use of coffee bean alpha-galactosidase”, Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics, 170:676-683, 1975; and by Zhu et al. “Characterization of recombinant alpha-galactosidase for use in seroconversion from blood group B to O of human erythrocytes”, Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics, 327:324-329, 1996).

Plant alpha-galactosidases from numerous sources have been studied, and multiple forms of the enzyme, falling into two groups, acid and alkaline, based on their activity response to pH, have been described (Keller F. and Pharr D. M., “Metabolism of Carbohydrates in Sinks and Sources: Galactosyl-Sucrose Oligosaccharides”, In: Zamski, E. and Schaffer, A. A. (eds.) Photoassimilate Partitioning in Plants and Crops: Source-Sink Relationships, ch. 7, pp. 168-171, 1996, Marcel Dekker Publ., New York). The acid forms of the enzyme play important roles in seed development and germination. In the cucurbits Gaudreault and Webb (1982, 1983, 1986) described an alkaline alpha-galactosidase from young leaves of Cucurbita pepo (in addition to multiple acid forms of the enzyme). The alkaline form was unique in that it showed a high affinity for stachyose and little activity toward raffinose compared with the acid forms, for which raffinose was found to be the preferred substrate.

While reducing the present invention to practice, a novel form of alpha galactosidase (E.C. 3.2.1.22, alpha-D-galactoside galactohydrolase) was isolated from young melon fruit mesocarp tissue, purified to homogeneity, as determined by SDS-PAGE gel electrophoresis, and characterized. The enzyme is characterized by optimal activity at neutral to alkaline pH (7-8), together with a broader substrate specificity, as compared to previously reported alkaline alpha-galactosidases. The novel alkaline alpha galactosidase enzyme of the present invention was purified using techniques of differential protein precipitation, ion-exchange chromatography, gel electrophoresis under native and denaturing conditions. Its native molecular weight is estimated as 84 kDa and its denatured molecular weight is estimated as 79 kDa. It is not a glycoprotein, as determined by the absence of binding to the lectin Concanavalin A. It shows relatively low affinity to the inhibitor galactose (Ki=13 mM), together with relative insensitivity to the inhibitor. In particular, the enzyme has a high affinity for, and activity against the substrate raffinose. When expressed in terms of the Vmax/Km ratio with raffinose as compared to other substrates, the novel alkaline alpha galactosidase is clearly distinguished from previously reported enzyme activity. In addition to melon fruit, the inventors have uncovered activity of the enzyme of the invention in various tissues of plants of the Cucurbit, Pipericeae and Lamiaceae families, as well as from germinating barley (H. vulgare) seeds.

Thus, according to one aspect of the present invention there is provided an isolated, plant-derived enzyme comprising an alpha galactosidase (E.C. 3.2.1.22, alpha-galactoside galactohydrolase) activity having higher raffinose than stachyose specificity and optimal activity in the range of pH 7.0 to pH 8.0. The plant-derived enzyme comprising an alpha galactosidase can be isolated from tissues of an alpha-galactosyl saccharide metabolizing and/or translocating plant.

Identification and Characterization of Alkaline Alpha Galactosidase Having High Affinity for Raffinose from Diverse Plant Sources:

Putative alkaline alpha galactosidase proteins from diverse plant sources can be characterized according to a variety of functional and structural criteria, well known to one skilled in the art. These include:

Plant sources: Alkaline alpha galactosidase activity can be assayed in all plant tissues, however, it is prudent to first investigate those plants and plant families known to have galactosyl-Suc translocation and metabolizing activity.

It will be appreciated, that members of the raffinose family of oligosaccharides (RFOs), specifically raffinose and stachyose, are near ubiquitous in higher plants (Keller and Pharr, in Zamski, E. and Schaffer, A. A. (eds.) Photoassimilate Partitioning in Plants and Crops: Source-Sink Relationships, ch. 7, pp. 157-183, 1996, Marcel Dekker Publ., New York). Thus, RFOs play an important role in photoassimilate translocation in many diverse plant families (Zimmerman and Zeigler, In “Encyclopedia of Plant Physiol., Zimmerman and Milburn eds, Vol 1, pp 480-503, 1975), including Arabidopsis of the Cruciferaceae family (Haritatos et al Planta 2000; 211: 105-111). In addition, RFOs function as stored carbohydrate, and as such are a major component of seeds in many botanical families, including the Leguminosae and Gramineae (Kuo et al, J. Agr. Food Chem, 1988; 36:32-36; Henry and Saini, Cereal Chem 1989; 66:362-65; and Peterbauer et al Plant J., 1999; 20:509-518).

Specific examples of such plants have galactosyl-Suc translocation and metabolizing activity are members of the Cucurbitaceae family, as described by Gao and Schaffer (Plant Physiol. 1999; 119:979-88), fruits and germinating seeds of many monocot and dicot species. Further definition of candidate plant species can be determined via database screening: employing global or local alignment algorithms, sequences homologous to the amino acid or nucleotide sequence of a known alkaline alpha galactosidase of interest may be identified. For example, the partial N-terminal amino acid sequence for the novel alkaline alpha galactosidase of the melon, as disclosed herein (see Table 4, hereinbelow), can be used to screen protein databases for homologous yet unidentified homologues in other plant species. Full length or partial nucleotide sequences, such as that disclosed for alkaline alpha galactosidase of the melon (see, for example PCT Application No. IL/03/00392 to Schaffer, et al, incorporated herein in its entirety by reference) can be used to screen nucleotide databases for plant ESTs. Computer modeling methods including, but not limited to, a number of molecular biology software tools including TFASTA, BLAST (Basic Local Alignment Search Tool, available through www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/BLAST), and pairwise sequence alignment using either Bestfit (GCG Wisconsin Package) or MegAlign (DNASTAR, Inc.) may be employed to isolate homologous expressed polynucleotide sequences.

Similarly, it has been shown that specific stages in plant development, and certain of the tissues of these plants, have high galactosyl-Suc metabolizing activity, and as such constitute sources for isolation of alkaline alpha galactosidase. Tissue samples can be prepared according to the methods described in detail in the Materials and Methods section of the Examples section hereinbelow.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the alkaline alpha galactosidase is isolated from a member of a plant family selected from the group consisting of Cucurbitaceae, Lamiaceae, Piperaceae, Solanaceae, Leguminosea, Cruciferae and Gramineae, preferably a member of the Cucurbitaceae family, most preferably a melon plant.

According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the enzyme is isolated from a fruit, a leaf, a seed, a stalk, a root, a tuber, a flower, a runner and/or a germinating seed tissue of the plant. Methods of preparation of plant tissues suitable for isolation of the alkaline alpha-galactosidase are described in detail in the Examples section hereinbelow. It will be noted that while reducing the present invention to practice, the inventors uncovered the importance of extraction of proteins from the crude extracts of plant tissues, without the use of (NH₄)₂SO₄. Thus, protocols for extraction, isolation or purification suitable for the plant-derived alkaline alpha-galactosidase of the present invention preferably omit (NH₄)₂SO₄ precipitation of proteins.

Catalytic Activity: Hydrolysis of substrates pNPG, stachyose, raffinose and melibiose under a variety of substrate concentrations, and determination of the pH optimum, as described in detail in the Materials and Methods section of the Examples section hereinbelow, can be used to identify the presence of alkaline alpha galactosidase having higher raffinose than stachyose specificity in extracts of plant tissues. Plant tissue preparations exhibiting catalytic activity having a broad substrate specificity, a Vmax/Km ratio for raffinose at least 0.1 than that for stachyose, and a neutral to alkaline pH optima are preferred for further isolation and purification of the novel alkaline alpha galactosidase.

Thus, according to one embodiment of the present invention, the isolated plant-derived alkaline alpha-galactosidase of the present invention has a Vmax/Km ratio for the substrate raffinose about 0.5, preferably equal to, and most preferably greater than the Vmax/Km ratio for the substrate stachyose, measured as described in the Materials and Methods section of the Examples section hereinbelow. According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the isolated plant-derived alkaline alpha-galactosidase of the present invention has a K_(m) for the substrate raffinose greater than that for the substrate stachyose, preferably about 10 mM, more preferably about 5 mM, and most preferably about 1.5 mM, measured as described in the Materials and Methods section of the Examples section hereinbelow. As used herein, the term “about” is defined as being in the range of 10% greater or 10% lesser than the recited value.

While reducing the present invention to practice, it was observed that the alkaline alpha galactosidase of the present invention demonstrated no inhibition of catalytic activity by galactose, while other forms of alpha-galactosidase were strongly inhibited (see FIG. 4, D-F). Thus, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the isolated plant-derived alkaline alpha-galactosidase of the present invention is not inhibited by galactose, and is characterized by a Ki (galactose) of at least 13 mM.

Chromatography: Crude preparations of plant tissues having alkaline alpha galactosidase activity with high raffinose specificity are subjected to a variety of protein purification methods in order to purify the enzyme from other plant components. Chromatography separation media and techniques well known in the art include, for example, ion exchange resins, affinity columns, FPLC, HPLC, hydrophobic interaction media, chelation chromatography and molecular size chromatography. Specific examples of such separation media suitable for isolation of the plant-derived alkaline alpha galactosidase of the present invention from plant tissues, as described in detail in the Materials and Methods of the Examples section, are DEAE (ion-exchange), Mono Q (FPLC) and Phenyl-Sepharose 4B (hydrophobic interaction) columns. Fractions of the eluates can be assayed for alpha galactosidase activity at neutral and alkaline pH, and resulting alkaline alpha galactosidase fractions assayed for high activity for raffinose at alkaline (7.5) pH, as described hereinbelow, in order to distinguish the plant derived enzyme of the present invention from other, contaminating alpha-galactosidase activity present in the plant tissues.

Molecular weight: The novel alkaline alpha galactosidase isolated from melon fruit has been characterized structurally, and molecular mass calculated by both gel filtration and electrophoretic techniques (see FIGS. 3 and 8). Gel filtration can be performed using a medium such as Sephacryl-S, and electrophoretic separation with high resolution can be achieved with natural or denaturing polyacrylamide gels, for example, as described in the Materials and Methods of the Examples section. Further identification of the migrating protein bands in gel electrophoresis can be accomplished by activity staining using pNPG as a substrate (see Materials and Methods of the Examples section). Thus, direct identification of the purified enzyme is provided. It is likely that alkaline alpha galactosidases having high raffinose specificity isolated from related and even unrelated plant sources sequences will exhibit a molecular weight similar to that of the enzyme protein purified from Cucurbit (of about 84 kDa, see FIG. 3).

While reducing the present invention to practice, it was observed that molecular weight of the alkaline alpha galactosidase, determined by electrophoresis on Superdex 200 (Pharmacia Biotech., Uppsala, Sweden) is distinct from the molecular mass of other forms of plant-derived alpha-galactosidase (see FIG. 3). Thus, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the isolated plant-derived alkaline alpha-galactosidase of the present invention is characterized by a molecular mass of about 70-100 kDa, preferably about 80-90 kDa, and most preferably about 84 kDa, as determined by gel electrophoresis. As used herein, the term “about” is defined as being in the range of 10% greater or 10% lesser than the recited value.

Further identification can be performed on the basis of the presence or absence of glycosyl groups added post-translationally to some proteins. Glycosylation, or the lack thereof, is characteristic for the active forms of many proteins, and can be discerned by the degree of binding to a lectin-containing medium, such as matrix-bound Concanavalin A or B. While reducing the present invention to practice, it was observed that the alkaline alpha galactosidase of the present invention did not bind to Concanavalin-A Sepharose (Pharmacia Biotech., Uppsala, Sweden) (see Example 1). Thus, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the isolated plant-derived alkaline alpha-galactosidase of the present invention is a non-glycosylated plant-derived enzyme.

Isoelectric focusing: Further identification of protein of interest can be made according to the distribution of charge on the protein molecule, and the characteristic isoelectric point (pI) can be determined by electrophoretically separating non-denatured proteins in a pH gradient. Proteins will migrate until reaching their pI, at which point the surface charges are balanced. Isoelectric focusing systems suitable for identifying and isolating plant-derived alkaline alpha-galactosidase enzymes of the present invention are well known to the skilled artisan, such as the PHASTGEL IEF (Pharmacia Biotech., Uppsala Sweden).

While reducing the present invention to practice, the pI of the alkaline alpha galactosidase of the present enzyme was determined to be 5.0. Thus, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the isolated plant-derived alkaline alpha-galactosidase of the present invention is characterized by a pI of about 4.0-6.0, preferably 4.8-5.5, and most preferably about 5.0. As used herein, the term “about” is defined as being in the range of 10% greater or 10% lesser than the recited value.

Antibody reactivity: Immunological testing of proteins provides evidence of functional and structural homology, demonstrated, for example, when an antibody raised against one protein (for example, alkaline alpha galactosidase) cross-reacts with another protein. Thus, cross-reacting proteins from diverse plant sources and tissues can be identified from whole samples, slices, crude extracts, partially purified and purified protein preparations using immunoassay, immune fluorescence, immunoelectron microscopy, and ELISA [see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,027,935 to Purchio et al and Techniques of Immunodetection in Current Protocols in Immunology, Coligan et al., Eds., John Wiley & Sons, New York (1995), incorporated herein in full by reference]. Antibodies specifically recognizing the novel alkaline alpha galactosidase of the present invention may be polyclonal, monoclonal or others. As is used herein, the term “antibody” refers to either a polyclonal or monoclonal antibody, recognizing at least one epitope of the novel alkaline alpha galactosidase having high raffinose specificity. The present invention can utilize serum immunoglobulins, polyclonal antibodies or fragments thereof, (i.e., immunoreactive derivative of an antibody), or monoclonal antibodies or fragments thereof such as Fab, F(ab′)2, and Fv, single chain antibodies (“SCA”). Methods of making these fragments are known in the art. (See for example, Harlow and Lane, Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, New York, 1988, incorporated herein by reference). In one preferred embodiment of the present invention the antibody is a polyclonal antibody.

Seroconversion of Group B Erythrocytes to Group O Erythrocytes

It is well established that group B erythrocytes can be enzymatically converted to group O erythrocytes in vitro by using a alpha-galactosidase enzyme. This is because the group B antigen differs structurally from the group O antigen only by the addition of one terminal alpha-linked galactose residue (see, for example U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,330,619; 4,427,777 and 4,609,627, all to Goldstein et al., incorporated herein in full by reference).

Such conversion is discussed in “Characterization of Recombinant alpha-Galactosidase for Use in Seroconversion from Blood Group B to O of Human Erythrocytes”, A. Zhu et al., Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics, 327:324-329, 1996. Acid alpha-galactosidase isolated from green coffee beans has been shown in the prior art to be highly active in removing the terminal alpha-linked galactose residues from the group B red cell surface. Similarly, the prior art shows that acid alpha-galactosidase enzymes from tomato fruit (Pressey, R., “Tomato Alpha-Galactosidase: Conversion of Human Type B Erythrocytes to Type O” Phytochemistry 23:55-58, 1984) and mung beans (Dey, P. M., “Characteristic Features of an Alpha-Galactosidase from Mung Beans”, Eur. J. Biochem. 140:385-390) can each seroconvert type B erythrocytes to type O erythrocytes. In Zhu et al., a recombinant acid alpha-galactosidase from green coffee beans was produced in Pichia pastoris, a methylotrophic yeast strain, and recombinant alpha-galactosidase was purified from the P. pastoris culture supernatant by a simple chromatography procedure. The recombinant alpha-galactosidase was used to seroconvert group B erythrocytes to group O erythrocytes in vitro (see also Intnl. Pat. No. WO 9506478 A1 to Ivy et al.).

Although of great potential medical importance, seroconversion with the above described acid alpha-galactosidase enzymes has severe disadvantages. These described prior art alpha-galactosidase enzymes show optimum activity in the acidic pH range. For example, the enzyme described by Zhu et al. is acidic, displaying maximal activity at pH 6.4 (and having a second peak at pH 4.5) with the synthetic substrate pNPG, which activity drops sharply at pH's higher than 7.0. The optimal pH drops to between 3.6 and 4 when the substrate is a natural saccharide such as melibiose, raffinose or stachyose. The removal of terminal alpha-linked galactose residues from the group B red cell surface by coffee bean alpha-galactosidase is observed when at a pH of less than 6.0. However, since the physiological pH of blood is about 7.3, Zhu et al. and others have had to compromise and treat the red blood cells with recombinant alpha-galactosidase at pH 5.5. It is noted that the recombinant alpha-galactosidase exhibited a high activity at pH lower than 5.5, but under such conditions the cells were less stable and tended to lyse.

As described hereinabove, the alkaline alpha-galactosidase of the present invention is characterized by optimal activity at neutral to alkaline pH (7-8), in contrast to the prior art, acid alpha-galactosidases. The enzyme of the present invention also features a broader substrate specificity, as compared to the prior art alkaline alpha-galactosidase. Thus, the alkaline alpha-galactosidase of the present invention can be used to efficiently seroconvert group B erythrocytes of human blood to group O at the natural pH of human blood, and with greater efficacy than the enzymes used in the prior art, since the optimal pH of the plant-derived alkaline alpha galactosidase of the present invention encompasses the natural pH of human blood.

Thus, according to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for seroconversion of blood group B erythrocytes to blood group O erythrocytes, the method effected by providing a plant-derived alkaline alpha galactosidase of the present invention; and contacting the blood group B erythrocytes with the plant-derived alkaline alpha galactosidase at a pH greater than 7.0, so as to remove the terminal a-linked galactose residue from the group B surface antigen, thereby seroconverting the blood group B erythrocytes to blood group O erythrocytes.

Alkaline Alpha-galactosidase for Hydrolysis of High-saccharide Foodstuffs

Examples of other uses of the alkaline alpha-galactosidase of the present invention are in the food industry. Certain legumes, such as soybean and its milk product (soy milk) contain stachyose and raffinose which are metabolized in humans only by the microbial flora in the large intestine, thereby causing problems of flatulence. This is of great medical and nutritional importance, since soy milk and other soy formulas are the most widely used non-bovine alternatives available for alleviation of milk allergies (see, for example, Muraro, et al Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 2002; 89:97-101). The pH of soybean milk is approximately 6.4 and cannot be lowered due to protein precipitation at a lower pH. However, the stachyose and raffinose may be efficiently hydrolyzed at a neutral or alkaline pH by the alkaline alpha-galactosidase of the present invention, thereby significantly reducing, or eliminating altogether the problematic saccharide residues, and the gastrointestinal complications associated with their digestion. The health and commercial implications of this problem have been significant enough to lead some to suggest the development and use of genetically engineered, low saccharide strains of soy beans, at great expense and complications associated with genetic engineering of crops. However, methods suitable for the alkaline hydrolysis of soy, and other high raffinose and stachyose proteins in order to enhance their digestibility and nutritional value, are well known in the art (see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,618,689 to McCarthy et al, incorporated herein in it's entirety by reference), and can be used with the enzyme of the present invention.

Thus, according to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for reducing the capability of a foodstuff to cause flatulence during digestion of said foodstuff, the method effected by providing a plant-derived alkaline alpha galactosidase of the present invention; and contacting the foodstuff prior to ingestion with the plant-derived alkaline alpha galactosidase at a pH greater than 7.0, so as to hydrolyze an alpha-galactosyl saccharide contained in the foodstuff, thereby reducing the capability of the foodstuff to cause flatulence during digestion.

Similarly, according to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for removing alpha-galactose from a galactosyl-saccharide containing material, the method effected by providing a plant-derived alkaline alpha galactosidase of the present invention; and contacting the galactosyl-saccharide containing material with the plant-derived alkaline alpha galactosidase at a pH greater than 7.0 so as to remove alpha-galactose from the galactosyl-saccharide containing material.

Another use of the alkaline alpha-galactosidase of the present invention in the food industry is in the enzymatic hydrolysis of the trisaccharide raffinose in sugar beet molasses to galactose and sucrose. The presence of indigestible raffinose in sugar beet molasses significantly inhibits the crystallization of the commercially important sucrose in the molasses, and is a problem in the manufacture of, for example, candy and confections. The hydrolysis of the raffinose to galactose and sucrose by the alkaline alpha-galactosidase of the present invention facilitates the crystallization of the sucrose.

Thus, according to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for facilitating the crystallization of sugar beet sucrose from sugar beet molasses, the method effected by providing a plant-derived alkaline alpha galactosidase of the present invention, and contacting the sugar beet molasses with the plant-derived alkaline alpha galactosidase at a pH greater than 7.0, so as to hydrolyze the raffinose in the sugar beet molasses to galactose and sucrose, thereby facilitating the crystallization of sugar beet sucrose from the sugar beet molasses. Methods suitable for the hydrolysis of the raffinose in sugar beet sugar or molasses with a galactosidase enzyme are well known in the art (see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,376,167 to Vitobello et al, incorporated herein in it's entirety by reference).

A further use of the alkaline alpha-galactosidase of the present invention in the food industry, is in the enzymatic modification of plant gums, such as guar gum. The prior art (Bulpin et al., “Development of a biotechnological process for the modification of galactomannan polymers with plant alpha-galactosidase” Carbohydrate Polymers 12:155-168, 1990) has shown that treatment of guar gum by alpha-galactosidase modifies the rheological and stabilization properties of the gum, making it similar to the more functional but scarce and more expensive locust bean gum.

While reducing the present invention to practice, it was demonstrated that alkaline alpha galactosidase having high affinity for raffinose, derived from melon fruit tissue, efficiently hydrolyzes the glucomannans of guar gum, at alkaline pH. The other plant derived alpha galactosidase tested showed no significant catalytic activity with the guar gum substrate (see Table 3, hereinbelow).

Thus, according to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of modifying the rheological properties of alpha-galactosyl saccharide containing plant gums effected by providing a plant-derived alkaline alpha galactosidase of the present invention and contacting the plant gum with the plant-derived alkaline alpha galactosidase at a pH greater than 7.0, so as to hydrolyze an alpha-galactosyl saccharide contained in the plant gum, thereby modifying the rheological properties of the alpha-galactosyl saccharide containing plant gum. Methods suitable for the hydrolysis of the galactomannan polymers in guar gum with a galactosidase enzyme, to render the gum superior for foodstuff, cosmetic and pharmaceutical applications, are well known in the art (see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,234,825 to McCleary et al, incorporated herein in it's entirety by reference).

Additional objects, advantages, and novel features of the present invention will become apparent to one ordinarily skilled in the art upon examination of the following examples, which are not intended to be limiting. Additionally, each of the various embodiments and aspects of the present invention as delineated hereinabove and as claimed in the claims section below finds experimental support in the following examples.

EXAMPLES Materials and Experimental Methods

Cultivation of Plants and Preparation of Samples:

Plants of muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.cv C-8) were grown under standard conditions in a greenhouse in Beit Dagan, Israel. Female flowers were hand pollinated and tagged at anthesis and fruit load was limited to 1 fruit per plant after 10 DAA (days after anthesis). For the study of fruit development, primary fruits were harvested from 3 days prior to anthesis, at anthesis and 1, 2, 4, 6, 10, 14, 20, 30 and 45 days after anthesis (DAA). Whole fruits before 6 DAA, and the inner mesocarp of the fruit tissues after 10 DAA, were thinly sliced and immediately frozen in liquid nitrogen prior to storage at −80 C. Chemicals and enzymes, unless specified otherwise, were purchased from Sigma and Boehringer, Mannheim, Germany.

Germinating barley seeds were prepared by imbibing 340 seeds of barley (H. vulgare var. Himalaya) on moist filter paper at 25° C. for 24 hours. The embryos were carefully removed (3.61 g fresh weight) and taken for enzyme extraction.

Assays for Alpha-Galactosidase:

For routine analysis and monitoring the activity in the purification steps, alpha-galactosidase was assayed as described by Smart and Pharr (“Characterization of alpha-galactosidase from cucumber leaves”, Plant Physiology, 66:731-734, 1980), using p-nitrophenyl alpha-galactoside (pNPG) as substrate. Reaction was initiated by adding 50 μl enzyme aliquot to either 200 μl 100 mM pH 5.5 McIlvaine buffer or 100 mM pH 7.5 HEPES buffer, containing 5 mM pNPG at 35 C. The reaction was terminated after 10 min by adding 1 ml of 5% (w/v) Na₂CO₃ and activity expressed as nmol nitrophenol per min as measured at 410 nm. The hydrolysis of the natural substrates stachyose, raffinose or melibiose by alpha-galactosidases was measured with 10 mM substrate at pH 5.5 or 7.5 as in the assay with pNPG. The assay was started by adding 50 μl enzyme preparation at 35 C and terminated after 10 to 20 min by 2 min boiling. Rates of raffinose and stachyose hydrolysis were estimated by determining the amounts of galactose released, as described by Smart and Pharr (1980) using an enzyme-coupled reaction with NAD and galactose dehydrogenase (Boehringer Mannheim, E.C. 1.1.1.48).

Purification of Alpha-Galactosidases:

In order to separate and characterize the various alpha-galactosidases present in melon fruit tissue an initial partial purification was performed. Mesocarp tissue (200 g fresh weight) from 10 DAA fruit was homogenized in 200 ml chilled extraction buffer containing 50 mM HEPES-NaOH (pH 7.5), 2 mM MgCl₂, 2 mM EDTA and 5 mM DTT. The homogenate was filtered through four layers of cheese cloth and centrifuged at 18,000 g for 30 min. PEG-6000 was used to precipitate proteins from crude extract since there was a significantly irreversible loss of the activity when (NH₄)₂SO₄ was used. Precipitated proteins were collected from the 5-50% (w/v) PEG-6000 fraction, suspended in 50 ml buffer pH 7.5 containing 25 mM HEPES and 1 mM DTT (buffer A) and applied to an ion-exchange column (DEAE-Sepharose CL-6B, Pharmacia, 1.2×25 cm) previously equilibrated with buffer A. Unbound protein was eluted with buffer A and the bound protein was eluted at flow rate of 1 ml/min with a linear gradient of 0 to 0.45 M NaCl in buffer A. Fractions of 3.5 ml were collected and assayed for alpha-galactosidase activity at pH 5.5 or pH 7.5 with pNPG as substrate.

Extraction of the germinated barley seeds followed a similar protocol, 3.61 g seeds extracted in 13 ml extraction buffer as described hereinabove, and precipitated in 5-50% PEG-6000. The precipitate was then resuspended, and separated on a Mono-Q HPLC column, as described hereinbelow.

Purification of the Acid Form of Alpha-Galactosidase:

For the partial purification of the acid form of alpha-galactosidase the fractions active at pH 5.5 were pooled and concentrated by reverse dialysis against solid sucrose. The concentrated fractions were chromatographed on a gel filtration column (Sephacryl-S 200, Pharmacia, 4.5×120 cm), previously equilibrated with buffer A, containing 0.15 M NaCl, at flow rate of 0.5 ml/min. Fractions of 3.5 ml were collected and assayed for alpha-galactosidase activity at pH 5.5, using pNPG as substrate. The active fractions were pooled and NaCl was added to a final concentration of 0.5 M prior to loading onto a lectin affinity column, (Concanavalin A-Sepharose 4B, 1×5 cm, Pharmacia, Uppsala, Sweden), previously equilibrated with buffer A containing 0.5 M NaCl. Unbound proteins were eluted with the same buffer, and bound proteins were eluted with the same buffer containing 50 mM methyl alpha-D-glucopyranoside. The active fractions were then desalted by dialysis against buffer A for 12 hours with two changes of the buffer. This enzyme fraction was used for the characterization of the acidic form of alpha-galactosidase.

Purification of Alkaline Alpha-Galactosidase:

The fractions from the DEAE-Sepharose chromatography which were active at pH 7.5 were pooled and dialyzed against buffer A for 12 h prior to loading onto an HPLC ion exchange chromatography column (Mono-Q HR 5/5, Pharmacia, Uppsala, Sweden), previously equilibrated with buffer A. Bound proteins were eluted with a linear gradient of 0.1 to 0.45 M NaCl and the active fractions were detected using pNPG as substrate at pH 7.5 as described above. Two peaks of alkaline alpha-galactosidase activity, labeled I and II, were separated by the Mono-Q chromatography. For the further purification of Form II the active fractions of the peak II were chromatographed on hydrophobic interaction chromatography. The fractions were pooled, brought to 1 M (NH₄)₂SO₄ and loaded on to a hydrophobic interaction column (phenyl-Sepharose CL-4B, 0.5×12 cm, Pharmacia, Uppsala, Sweden) previously equilibrated with buffer A containing 1 M (NH₄)₂SO₄. The protein was eluted with a reverse stepwise gradient from 1 to 0 M (NH₄)₂SO₄ with 50 mM intervals in buffer A. Fractions containing the activity peak were collected and dialyzed for 12 h against buffer A and the dialysate was concentrated by reverse dialysis against solid sucrose. The enzyme, partially purified by hydrophobic interaction chromatography, was used for the characterization of Form II. The active fractions from the hydrophobic interaction column were further purified. Active fractions were separated electrophoretically using a Mini Prep Cell (Bio-Rad Laboratories, Hercules, Calif.) for discontinuous native-PAGE with 7% polyacrylamide, according to manufacturer's instructions. Fractions (0.25 ml/fraction) were assayed at pH 7.5 with pNPG as substrate for the activity. The active fractions were pooled, concentrated by Vivaspin Concentrator (Vivascience LTD, Lincoln, England), and run in a 8% SDS-PAGE. Proteins in the SDS-PAGE were identified using Coomassie Blue staining.

Similarly, the HPLC Mono-Q fractions of the germinated barley extract were assayed for activity with p-NPG under acid (pH 5.0) and alkaline (pH 8.0) reaction conditions, and fractions showing a high ratio of activity (pH 8.0/pH 5.0) were collected for comparison of activity with the natural substrates raffinose and stachyose. Affinity and activity of the barley seed enzyme toward stachyose and raffinose was determined by comparison between the hydrolysis of the substrates by equal aliquots of the HPLC-purified barley enzyme, using 25 μl of the enzyme in a reaction mixture at pH 7.5 containing 10 mM of stachyose or raffinose.

The hydrophobic interaction chromatography was not applied to the fractions of peak I as there was a great loss of the activity in (NH₄)₂SO₄ solution. Therefore, the active fractions from the Mono-Q column were used for the characterization of Form I. In addition, the Form I enzyme was further purified, as described in the following section.

Further purification of alkaline alpha-galactosidase Form I was carried out. The fractions of peak I, obtained after Mono-Q chromatography, were chromatographed on a hydroxyapatite column (BioGel HTP, Bio-Rad, 0.5×12 cm) previously equilibrated with 10 mM Na-phosphate buffer pH 7.0 containing 0.5 mM DTT. The enzyme was eluted with a 60 ml linear 10 to 100 mM Na-phosphate gradient. The active fractions were pooled and concentrated by Vivaspin Concentrator. The concentrated protein was separated electrophoretically on a non-denaturing PAGE using the Mini-Protean II apparatus (Bio-Rad) using 1 mm thick slab gels containing 10% acrylamide, according to the procedure of Laemmli (1970). The active band was identified as a yellowish band in activity stain with 50 mM HEPES pH 7.5 containing 2 mM pNPG at 35 C. Following the native electrophoresis, the active band was excised, and the protein was eluted with ddH₂0 overnight and subjected to electrophoreses in 8% SDS-PAGE.

Amino Acid Sequencing: The Coomassie-stained band of purified alkaline alpha-galactosidase Form I was excised from the 8% SDS-PAGE gel and submitted for amino acid sequencing at the Protein Center of the Technion University, Haifa, Israel. The sequencing operation is as follows. Following gel destaining, the protein band was cut with a razor blade and the protein in it was reduced with DTT (5 mM) and carboxymethylated “in gel” using 10 mM iodoacetamide. The gel was then further destained in 50% acetonitrile with 100 mM ammonium bicarbonate, cut to little pieces and dried in vacuum. The gel pieces were rehydrated with 50 mM phosphate buffer pH8/100 mM ammonium bicarbonate pH 7.4/0.5 M tris-HCl pH 9.2 containing the protease (S. aureus V8 protease, Promega)/Lys-C protease (Boehringer)/modified Trypsin (Promega). After an overnight incubation in 37 C with shaking, the resulting peptides were eluted from the gel pieces with 60% acetonitrile with 0.1% TFA and analyzed by LC-MS as described below.

The peptides were resolved by reverse phase HPLC on a 1×150 mm Vydac C-18 column with a linear gradient of 4-65% acetonitrile in 0.025% TFA, at 1%/min at a flow rate of 40 ul/min. The flow was split post column: about 20% of the sample was microsprayed directly from the HPLC column into an electrospray iontrap mass spectrometer (LCQ, Finnigan) while 80% was collected manually into microfuge tubes for automated Edman sequencing. The mass spec analysis was done in the positive ion mode using repetitively a full MS scan followed by MS/MS experiment (collision induced fragmentation) on the most abundant ion selected from the mass scan. The MS and MS/MS data from the run was compared to the simulated proteolysis and fragmentation of the proteins in the “owl” database using the “Sequest” software (J. Eng and J. Yates, Univ. of Washington). Further identification of the protein was performed by sequencing peptides on the automated Sequencer (Perkin Elmer). Further sequencing of peptide fragments is performed by automated Edman degradation sequencing.

N-Terminal Peptide Sequencing:

After resolving the purified alkaline alpha-galactosidase Form I on SDS-PAGE, as previously described, the protein was blotted to PVDF membrane (Immobilon-CD, Millipore Co.) using a Bio-Rad blotting apparatus. The transfer buffer contained 25 mM Tris, 192 mM Glycine, 20% methanol and 0.1 mM sodium thioglycolate. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of the purified alkaline alpha-galactosidase I was analyzed directly from the PVDF membrane using a Automatic Sequencer (Applied Biosystems), according to manufacturer's instructions.

Catalytic Properties-pH Optimum, Substrate Specificity, Inhibition, Kinetic Properties:

The optimum pH for each partially purified enzyme was determined using either 5 mM pNPG, 10 mM stachyose or 10 mM raffinose as substrates, in 100 mM McIlvaine buffer over a pH range of 4 to 7, or 100 mM HEPES buffer at pH range 7 to 8.5, at 35 C. The substrate specificity of the alpha-galactosidases was tested with pNPG, stachyose, raffinose, melibiose or guar gum (Sigma). Effects of galactose, fructose, glucose, sucrose, malate, citrate and of excessive stachyose, raffinose and pNPG on the enzyme activity were assessed. Km, Vmax values, and Vmax/Km ratios for pNPG, stachyose, raffinose or melibiose were determined by Lineweaver-Burk plots, as were Ki (inhibition) values for D-galactose inhibition.

Determination of the Native Molecular Mass and pI (Isoelectric Point):

The partially purified enzymes were chromatographed on a gel filtration column (Superdex 200 HR 10/30, Pharmacia Biotech., Uppsala, Sweden), equilibrated with 50 mM Na-phosphate buffer (pH 7.0) containing 0.15 M NaCl and 1 mM DTT. Retention time was compared to that of gel filtration markers (Sigma) for molecular weights 12 kDA to 200 kDA. The estimation of pI was carried out by isoelectrical focusing (PhastGel IEF, Pharmacia Biotech., Uppsala, Sweden) on high speed gel electrophoresis (PhastSystem™, Pharmacia Biotech., Uppsala, Sweden) at pH 4.0-6.5. Proteins were loaded to duplicate gels and focused according to the manufacturer's instructions. One of the gels was stained for protein using Coomassie Blue. The duplicate gel was sliced into 1 mm segment and assayed for enzyme activity using pNPG at pH 7.5. Standards with pI values of 4.55, 5.2 and 5.85 (Sigma) were used for comparison and the pI of the enzymes were estimated from the calibration curve and the distance of the active band from the anode.

SDS-PAGE (Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis) and Nondenaturing PAGE:

Denaturing SDS-PAGE was carried out using a Bio-Rad Mini-Protean II apparatus using 1 mm thick slab gels containing 8% acrylamide according to the procedure of Laemmli (1970). Gels were stained with Coomassie brilliant blue R-250 and destained in methanol: acetic acid: water solution. Molecular mass standards used (Pharmacia) were phosphorylase b (94 kD), albumin (67 kD), ovalbumin (43 kD), carbonic anhydrase (30 kD), trypsin inhibitor (20.1 kD), and alpha-lactalbumin (14.4 kD). Nondenaturing PAGE was run with 1 mm thick slab gels containing 10% acrylamide according to the procedure of Laemmli (1970). The active band was identified by incubating the gel in 5 mM pNPG in pH 7.5 HEPES buffer at 35° C. and then visualizing the yellow activity band.

Developmental Profile of Alpha-Galactosidase Activity in Fruit:

The activities of alpha-galactosidases in developing fruits were estimated in crude extracts with raffinose or stachyose as substrate at pH 5.5 or 7.5. Tissues were homogenized in a chilled mortar with 4 volumes of chilled extraction buffer containing 50 mM HEPES-NaOH (pH 7.5), 2 mM MgCl₂, 2 mM EDTA and 5 mM DTT. After centrifugation at 18,000 g for 30 min the supernatant was desalted with a 5 ml Sephadex G-25 column and used as the crude enzyme extract. Enzyme extracts from 10 g of 0 and 10 DAA fruits were also characterized after separation on a Mono-Q column. The 3 to 50% PEG-6000 (w/v) fraction from the above supernatant was separated on a Mono-Q HR 5/5 column previously equilibrated with buffer A, with a linear gradient of 0 to 0.45 M NaCl, as above. Active fractions were detected with the assays using pNPG as well as stachyose or raffinose as substrates at pH 5.5 and 7.5.

Protein Assay:

Protein was assayed according to the method of Bradford (1976) using the BioRad protein assay and BSA as standard.

Experimental Results Example 1 Purification of Alpha-Galactosidases from Melon Fruit

Three forms of alpha-galactosidase were resolved from young melon fruit mesocarp by DEAE-Sepharose ion exchange chromatography, in conjunction with Mono-Q chromatography, using pNPG as substrate (FIGS. 1 and 2). The first peak showed higher activity at pH 5.5 than at pH 7.5, while the latter two peaks both showed activity at pH 7.5 with little activity at pH 5.5. Accordingly, we referred the first peak as an acid form of alpha-galactosidase and the other two peaks as alkaline alpha-galactosidases Form I and Form II, respectively. The three enzyme forms were partially purified for the purpose of characterization (Table 1). Mono-Q ion exchange successfully resolved the two alkaline forms, and hydrophobic interaction chromatography was useful in the purification of alkaline Form II. After further purification, as described in Table 1, the two alkaline forms were electrophoresed on a denaturing SDS-PAGE gel and a photograph of two purified proteins is shown in FIG. 3. The acid alpha-galactosidase bound to Concanavalin A-Sepharose, indicating that it is a glycoprotein, and this was a useful step in its purification. Neither alkaline alpha-galactosidase forms I or II bound to Concanavalin A, suggesting that neither are glycoproteins. The purified enzymes were stable for at least 2 months when stored at −80° C.

TABLE 1 Purification Purification step Activity* Protein** Specific activity*** Yield % fold Acid Form Crude extract 13018 1152 11 100 — 5-50% PEG fraction 11411 481 24 88 2 DEAE-Sepharose 4610 45 102 35 9 Sephadex-200 2998 13 232 23 21 Con-A 1646 2.6 627 13 55 Alkaline form I Crude extract 27650 1152 24 100 — 5-50% PEG fraction 20730 481 43 75 2 DEAE-Sepharose 9475 35 273 34 11 Mono-Q 7974 15 537 29 22 Bio-gel HTP 5103 3.7 1382 19 57 Alkaline form II Crude extract 18433 1152 16 100 — 5-50% PEG fraction 16370 481 34 89 2 DEAE-Sepharose 10907 58 189 59 12 Mono-Q 8826 17 521 48 33 Phenyl Sepharose 6FF 5761 2.9 1973 31 123 *nmol min⁻¹ **mg; ***nmol mg⁻¹ protein min⁻¹

A Novel Alkalinealpha-galactosidase Having High Specificity for Raffinose

The three enzymes are distinct with respect to their substrate specificity. The hydrolysis of the natural substrates, melibiose, raffinose and stachyose, were of particular interest to us. All three enzymes showed Michaelis-Menten kinetics at concentrations up to 40 mM melibiose, raffinose or stachyose (FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C). Alkaline Form I exhibited nearly 2-fold higher activity, as well as higher affinity, to raffinose as compared to either melibiose stachyose. Nevertheless, there was significant activity towards melibiose and stachyose. In contrast, alkaline Form II was relatively specific to stachyose, with little activity toward raffinose or melibiose. The acid alpha-galactosidase exhibited a preferred specificity and higher activity with raffinose as compared to stachyose or melibiose.

The affinity constants (Km), calculated maximal velocities (Vmax) and Vmax/Km ratio for the substrates raffinose and stachyose, for each of the three alpha-galactosidases are summarized in Table 2. It can clearly be seen that the Form I alkaline enzyme is novel with respect to its relatively high affinity to both raffinose and stachyose, in distinction from the Form II alkaline enzyme, which is relatively specific to stachyose. The relative affinity constants (Km) of the two alkaline forms for the substrate raffinose is 1.5 and 26.3 for Forms I and II respectively.

It will be noted that the two alkaline alpha galactosidases differed greatly with respect to enzyme activity expressed as the Vmax/Km ratio. This parameter, which is the initial rate of the reaction at low substrate concentrations, often has great relevance in in-vivo under low level exposure conditions, leading to low tissue concentrations of a substrate. Accordingly, the Vmax/Km ratio of the Form I enzyme is 0.37 with raffinose, greater than six times that of the Vmax/Km ratio with stachyose (0.06). The Vmax/Km ratio of the Form II enzyme with the substrate raffinose is only 0.01, less than one 60^(th) of the Vmax/Km with stachyose (0.61). Interestingly, the Vmax/Km ratio values for the Form II enzyme is most similar to the values that can be calculated for the prior art “L_(IV)” enzyme of Gaudreault and Webb (0.0039 with raffinose and 0.65 with stachyose).

TABLE 2 α-galactosidase Substrate Km (mM) Vmax (unit*) Vmax/Km ratio Acid form Stachyose 10.5 0.23 0.02 Raffinose 4.2 0.71 0.17 Melibiose 0.7 0.19 0.27 pNPG 0.3 1.5 5.00 Alkaline I Stachyose 4 0.24 0.06 Raffinose 1.5 0.56 0.37 Melibiose 20 0.3 0.02 pNPG 1.2 1.4 1.17 Alkaline II Stachyose 3.6 2.2 0.61 Raffinose 26.3 0.28 0.01 Melibiose 18.7 0.23 0.01 pNPG 3 7.9 2.63 *unit: μmol mg⁻¹ protein min⁻¹;

The hydrolysis of guar gum, a complex polysaccharide with terminal alpha-galactose moieties, was also investigated. Guar gum (Sigma, 0.1% w/v) was incubated as substrate with the three enzyme fractions and the relative activity of galactose release was measured and is shown in Table 3. It can be seen that of the two alkaline forms only Form I shows significant activity towards guar gum.

TABLE 3 Acid Alkaline Alkaline Substrate α-galactosidase α-galactosidase I α-galactosidase II Activity (unit) Stachyose 0.290 0.511 1.000 Raffinose 1.000 1.000 0.074 Melibiose 0.274 0.315 0.090 Guar gum 0.328 0.181 0.032

Hydrolysis of the synthetic substrate pNPG did not give any indication of natural substrate specificity. The acid form showed the highest affinity for pNPG but highest maximal activity was observed with alkaline Form II, which had the lowest affinity to pNPG (Table 2). When using pNPG as substrate, the acid alpha-galactosidase was inhibited above 5 mM pNPG (FIG. 4A). The two alkaline forms followed Michaelis Menten kinetics up to substrate concentrations of 20 mM pNPG (FIGS. 2B, 2C).

The inhibition of alpha-galactosidase activity by galactose is represented in FIGS. 4D-F. It can clearly be seen that the Form I alkaline enzyme is relatively insensitive to inhibition by galactose, as compared to the other forms. A galactose concentration of 8 mM, in the presence of 10 mM pNPG, caused a reduction of 65% and 70% in activity for the acid and Form II alkaline enzymes, respectively, but inhibited the activity of the alkaline Form I enzyme by a relatively insignificant 8%. The inhibition by galactose was characterized as “competitive” for all three enzymes, as determined by calculations from Lineweaver-Burke plots, with the acid form showing the strongest affinity for the inhibitor (Ki=0.06 mM galactose). The alkaline Form II also showed a strong affinity for the inhibitor (Ki=1.3 mM), as compared to the Form I enzyme, which showed only low affinity for the inhibitor (Ki=13 mM galactose).

There was an inhibitory interaction between the substrates raffinose and stachyose when either the acid form or the alkaline Form II were assayed (FIG. 5). For the alkaline Form II, addition of 80 mM raffinose to the assay medium containing 10 mM stachyose caused 35% inhibition of Form II activity, as measured by the release of galactose. For the acid form, 80 mM stachyose added to the assay medium of the acid alpha-galactosidase containing 10 mM raffinose caused a 45% inhibition in free galactose release. However, this inhibitory interaction was negligible for the alkaline Form I and the addition of excess amounts of stachyose did not lead to a decrease in released galactose.

The acid form exhibits a narrow pH range of maximal activity, between 5 and 5.5, with only approximately 5% of maximal activity at pH 7, when measured with its preferred substrate, raffinose (FIG. 6A). When using pNPG as substrate the acid form exhibited activity over a broad pH range, from 4 to 8, with maximal activity at 5.8 and approximately 35% maximal activity remaining at pH 7 (FIG. 6B). Both alkaline forms had maximal activity at pH 7.5 with raffinose and stachyose (for Form I and Form II, respectively), which was similar to that with pNPG as substrate. Form I retained high activity up to pH 8.3, while the activity of Form II declined already at lower pH and at pH 8.0 there was already little activity (FIGS. 6A and 6B).

Both alkaline forms I and II exhibited the highest activity in the temperature range of 35° to 40° C. and activity was significantly decreased above 40° C. (FIG. 7). The acid alpha-galactosidase was relatively thermophilic, with maximal activity at 50° C., and retained 40% of its activity at 70° C. (FIG. 5).

The pI values of the two alkaline forms were estimated at 5.0 and 4.7 for the forms I and II, respectively, by activity staining of isoelectric focusing electrophoresis gels. The molecular weights of the denatured alkaline forms were estimated at 79 kDA and 92 kDA for Form I and II, respectively (FIG. 3). The molecular weight of the native proteins were 27, 84 and 102 kD for the acid form and alkaline Form I and Form II respectively (FIG. 8).

Thus, Form I alkaline alpha galactosidase isolated from melon mesocarp tissue is a novel enzyme, distinguished from alpha-galactosidases (such as RBC galactosidase) of the same and other species by both physical and functional criteria.

Example 2 Changes of Acid and Alkaline Alpha-Galactosidases During Melon Fruit Development

The substrate preferences (Table 2) and pH profiles (FIG. 6A) from the purified acid and Form I and Form II alkaline alpha-galactosidases allowed us to measure and estimate their activities even in crude extracts of melon fruit, using their natural substrates. Very little overlap in activity occurs between pH 5.5 and pH 7.5 (FIG. 4A) and, at pH 7.5, the activities of alkaline alpha-galactosidase I and II in the crude extracts could be distinguished by their respective activities when using raffinose or stachyose as substrate. The activity with raffinose at pH 7.5 is a good indicator of Form I activity since Form II is relatively specific for stachyose. There should be an overestimation of Form II activity when using stachyose due the hydrolysis of this substrate by Form I which is also present in the crude extract. Nevertheless, distinct developmental patterns of alpha-galactosidase activities are apparent when using these two substrates.

Stachyose hydrolysis at alkaline pH was highest in the pre-anthesis fruit ovary and progressively declined through development (FIG. 9). Raffinose hydrolysis at alkaline pH (Form I), in comparison, increased during the pre-anthesis period and remained high during the initial fruit-setting period, declining only from 10 days after anthesis. The major alpha-galactosidase activity in the mature fruit was toward raffinose at alkaline pH. Raffinose and stachyose hydrolysis at acid pH also declined during fruit development but the relative hydrolysis of the two substrates remained the same at each stage measured (FIG. 9).

Partial amino acid sequence data was determined for the Form II enzyme as described earlier. Table 4 lists the amino acid sequence for the N-terminal peptide. A comparison of the N-terminal peptide sequence against the SwissProt protein sequence database using the BLAST program did not reveal any meaningful homologies.

TABLE 4 Peptide Amino acid sequence N-terminal TVGAGITISDANLTVLG (SEQ. ID No. 1)

In summary, although acid alpha-galactosidases often exist in multiple forms in leaves and seeds, only one form of alkaline alpha-galactosidase has been reported in plants in the prior art (Gaudreault and Webb 1983, 1986). In the present invention, three different alpha-galactosidases extracted from the fruit tissue of muskmelon are demonstrated, as resolved by ion-exchange chromatography (FIGS. 1 and 2). Two of the purified alpha-galactosidases exhibit maximum activity at neutral-alkaline conditions (FIG. 6). In addition to the pH optima, the two alkaline alpha-galactosidases show similar temperature sensitivity, and are non-glycosylated, in contrast to the acid alpha-galactosidase in melon fruit.

The purified acid form we studied is similar to the smaller molecular form of acid alpha-galactosidase isolated from cucumber leaves (Smart and Pharr, 1980), with respect to pH optima and Km for raffinose or stachyose. The alkaline alpha-galactosidase Form II which we report here appears similar to the previously reported alkaline alpha-galactosidase from squash leaves (Gaudreault and Webb, 1982, 1983), with respect to pH optima and affinity to stachyose and raffinose, as well as to inhibition by the product galactose.

The two alkaline alpha-galactosidases can be distinguished from one another by a number of characteristics, such as substrate affinities, pI, molecular weight and different inhibition by D-galactose and an interactive inhibition between the natural substrates, raffinose and stachyose. The most significant difference between the two alkaline forms is in their substrate preferences and catalytic activity when hydrolyzing natural galactosyl-saccharides. The Form II enzyme is relatively specific for stachyose while the Form I shows preferred activity against raffinose, with significant activity against other galactose containing saccharides such as stachyose, melibiose and guar gum, as well.

It is a particular feature of the present invention that the Form I alkaline alpha-galactosidase has a high affinity and activity for the substrate raffinose, as expressed in the enzyme's Vmax/Km ratio with raffinose, which is 0.37, and Km_(raffinose) which is <5 mM.

Example 3 Alkaline Alpha-Galactosidases from Germinating Barley Seeds

Storage carbohydrates are of great importance in seeds of mono- and dicot plants, and raffinose is found in great quantities at this stage in seed-bearing plant development. In order to further determine the relevance of the alkaline alpha galactosidase of the present invention in plant developmental processes, the enzyme was detected and purified from germinating barley seeds.

When extracted and separated as described hereinabove for the melon plant, germinating barley seeds demonstrated a high activity of alkaline alpha-galactosidase measured at alkaline pH (pH 8/pH 5 activity ratio equals 10.48), indicating a highly specific alkaline alpha-galactosidase fraction.

Comparison of substrate specificity of the HPLC (MonoQ)-purified barley seed enzyme preparations demonstrated that the enzyme has a broad specificity at alkaline pH, with nearly equal catalytic activity measured with raffinose and stachyose substrates. This surprisingly broad substrate specificity at alkaline pH is characteristic of the novel, Form I alkaline alpha-galactosidase purified from melon described herein.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited by what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. Rather the scope of the present invention includes both combinations and subcombinations of the features described hereinabove as well as modifications and variations thereof which would occur to a person of skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description and which are not in the prior art. 

1. A method for reducing the capability of a foodstuff to cause flatulence during digestion of said foodstuff comprising: (a) providing a non-glycosylated, naturally occurring plant-derived alkaline alpha galactosidase from a plant of the Cucurbitaceae family, said alkaline alpha galactosidase comprising, (i) an alpha-galactosidase activity; (ii) a Vmax/Km ratio for the substrate raffinose at least 0.1 times that of the Vmax/Km ratio for the substrate stachyose; (iii) optimal activity in the range of pH 7.0 to pH 8.0.; and (iv) a molecular mass of about 84 kDa; and, (b) contacting the foodstuff prior to ingestion with said plant-derived alkaline alpha galactosidase at a pH greater than 7.0, so as to hydrolyze an alpha-galactosyl saccharide contained in the foodstuff; thereby reducing the capability of said foodstuff to cause flatulence during digestion.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein said foodstuff is a legume or legume product.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein said legume is soy bean and said legume product is a soy bean product.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein said soy bean product is soy milk.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein said alpha-galactosyl saccharide is stachyose or raffinose. 